Steetley Pier, Hartlepool

NOTES: Steetley Magnesite, also known as Hartlepool Magnesia Works and Palliser Works, was located at Hartlepool Headland. It produced a type of stone (Dolime) from dolomite, used during the 19th century. But by the 20th century the company had diversified into producing a type of brick made from calcined magnesia, known as magnesitet and in 1936 the first research laboratory was built. One of its first jobs was to explore the possibility of releasing magnesia from dolomitic lime (Dolime) by reacting it with seawater. The experiment was successful and in 1937 they acquired whatÔÇÖs now known as Steetley in Hartlepool, 24 acres of land on the coast and close to major steel works. A large factory was built including a pier used for transporting trucks from the sea to the works. The plant closed in the 1990s and was largely demolished in the 2000s, except for the remains of the pier seen here.